Sean Penn has described the banning of straight actors from gay roles as “timid and artless”.
Penn, 63, portrayed gay politician Harvey Milk in 2008 movie Milk, but argued the casting “could not happen” today.
The film saw Penn winning his second Oscar for the role, but in a recent interview he gave his verdict on new bans regarding straight actors taking on gay roles.
Speaking to The New York Times, the actor admitted: “I went 15 years miserable on sets.
“Milk was the last time I had a good time,” before adding of his role: “It could not happen in a time like this.”
Giving a scathing verdict of modern restrictions amid the cancel culture era, he shared: “It’s a time of tremendous overreach. It’s a timid and artless policy toward the human imagination.”
Sean Penn played Harvey Milk in the 2008 movie
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Talking about his experiences on set, he told the publication: “I feel like an actor who is playing a leading role and is a known actor and is being paid well has a leadership position on a film and you’ve got to show up with energy and be a bodyguard for the director in some way.
“I was faking my way through that stuff and that was exhausting.
“Mostly what I thought was just, ‘What time is it? When are we going to get off?’
“I was sure it was done, but I didn’t know how I was going to keep my house running or travel freely or things like that if I stopped.”
Sean Penn said the casting ‘could not happen’ now
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The debate surrounding straight actors portraying gay roles has been rife in recent years, with Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies stating in 2021 that queer roles should be reserved for queer actors.
“I’m trying to avenge hundreds of years of inequality,” he told The Independent at the time.
He continued: “[It’s A Sin] has also unashamedly cast gay people in straight roles.
“I think that’s fine because, believe you me, from the age of eight we are studying straight people and how to fit in with them.”
